During his time in England, Louis van Gaal had something of a reputation for playing players out of position.
Ashley Young is a prime example of this. Traditionally a left winger, Young was used regularly as a full-back last season; even making a couple of unsuccessful appearances as a lone striker.
Several other Manchester United players were also asked to play in unfamiliar roles over the course of the Dutchman’s two-year tenure, but until now, many of us weren’t aware that Paddy McNair fell into this category.
21-year-old McNair left Old Trafford in the summer, joining Sunderland. On Wednesday, he scored his first goals for the club in their 2-1 EFL Cup win over Queens Park Rangers.
The news of his goal-scoring exploits surprised many of his former club’s supporters, who had only ever seen the Northern Irishman playing in a defensive role for their first team.
However, quoted in the Daily Mail, McNair has explained that until the age of 18, he’d not played in defence.
 “Until I was 18, I played in midfield,” he says. “Van Gaal played me at centre-back. So a lot of people think I’m a defender but I’ve not really ever been a defender… In midfield, a Number 10, I’ll play wherever – so long as I score two!
“When I was younger I scored a few goals so I’ve always chipped in. But I’ve waited a while for my first senior goal.
“I think my best position is left or right of a three in midfield.”
